Root crop harvester

Abstract

A root crop harvester includes an endless soil-separating conveyor-sieve and agitator means for agitating the conveyor-sieve so as to move to and fro the crop-bearing upper run of the conveyor-sieve substantially in the plane of said upper run.

I claim: 
     
       1. A root crop harvester including means for removing the crop from the soil and discharging the removed crop, first, second and third conveyor means for receiving the crop discharged by said removing means and for transporting and separating the crop from soil so that the crop can be discharged for collection, whereby the crop moves sequentially from the first to the second and thereafter to the third conveyor means, said second conveyor means including a transversely disposed horizontal conveyor-sieve for moving the crop in a first widthwise direction following receipt of the crop from said first conveyor means, said second conveyor means also acting as a sieve and including drive means for driving said second conveyor means and means for suspending and oscillating said second conveyor means so that said second conveyor means is oscillatable in a direction substantially along a plane parallel with the upper crop supporting surface thereof, said second conveyor means discharging directly onto said third conveyor means so that the later can directly discharge the crop from the harvester. 
     
     
       2. A root crop harvester as in claim 1, wherein the oscillation motion of said second conveyor means is in a direction lengthwise of the harvester. 
     
     
       3. A root crop harvester as in claim 1, wherein at least said second conveyor means is comprised of a conveyor sleeve including a plurality of laterally spaced web tines each of which presents a convex surface to the crop. 
     
     
       4. A root crop harvest as in claim 1, wherein said first conveyor means deposits the crop onto said second conveyer means with little or no significiant soil separation. 
     
     
       5. A root crop harvester as in claim 1, wherein said second conveyor means further includes an inclined deflection member positioned adjacent the end of said conveyor-sieve for deflecting the crop directly toward and onto said third conveyor means. 
     
     
       6. A root crop harvester as in claim 5, wherein said third conveyor means includes a drive means for driving said third conveyor means and means for suspending and oscillating said third conveyor means so that said third conveyor means is oscillatable in a direction substantially along a plane parallel with the upper crop supporting thereof. 
     
     
       7. A root crop harvester as in claim 6, wherein said third conveyor means is driven in a second widthwise direction directly opposite to said first widthwise direction of said second conveyor means, so that the crop thereon will be moved in the opposite direction and thereafter is directly discharged from the harvester. 
     
     
       8. A root crop harvester as in claim 7, wherein said second conveyor means is angled downwardly toward said third conveyor means. 
     
     
       9. A root crop harvester as in claim 6, wherein said second conveyor means is oscillated at a rate of about 300 oscillations per minute. 
     
     
       10. A root crop harvester as in claim 7 whereby said second and third conveyor means are oscillated in a direction lengthwise of the harvester.